Christophe Dufresnes

I am interested in population genetics and its broad applications in evolutionary biology, phylogeography and conservation. My research mainly focuses on sex-chromosome evolution in amphibians using population genetics and phylogeographic approaches.

Contrasting with mammals and birds, most cold-blooded vertebrates maintain homomorphic "young" sex-chromosomes. It has been recently suggested that such absence of differentiation between the X and Y chromosomes might stem from occasional XY recombination in link with rare events of sex reversal (eg. in sex-reversed XY females). My PhD aims to uncover evidences of such recombination in the European tree frog Hyla arborea, by investigating the diversity and phylogeography of sex-linked molecular markers in populations from different regions of its distribution range. At a regional scale, I intend to study the evolutionary forces affecting the X and Y diversity in tree frogs' metapopulations, such as sex-specific dispersal and sexual selection. Finally, another aspect of my research will aim to understand the dynamics of sex-linked molecular markers in secondary contact zones between Hyla arborea and related species.

Born on December 3rd, 1985 in Pont de Beauvoisin (38), France

2010-
PhD under the supervision of Prof. Nicolas Perrin, University of Lausanne (Switzerland)

2009-2010
Research assistant, Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Lausanne (Switzerland)

2007-2009
Master of Sciences in Biodiversity, Ecology & Environment, University Joseph Fourrier of Grenoble (France). Master thesis with Prof. Simon Griffith, university Macquary of Sydney: “Breeding ecology of the endangered Gouldian Finch: nest site selection and interspecific competition”

2004-2007
Bachelor of Sciences in Biology, university Joseph Fourrier of Grenoble (France)